CHAPTER 197: GET IN

"Get in," he said, his voice firm but filled with concern. "I can't stand seeing you in the rain, Juliet." Juliet hesitated, her pride warring with her need for shelter. She glanced at Lily, who gave her an encouraging nod. "Go on," Lily urged gently. "You can't stay out here." Juliet bit her lip, the conflicting emotions clear on her face. Finally, she relented and opened the car door. She and Lily climbed into the backseat, and Caleb immediately cranked up the heat to warm them. The car was filled with an uncomfortable silence, the only sound was the patter of rain against the windows and the soft hum of the engine. Caleb's grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white with tension. He glanced at Juliet through the rearview mirror, but she avoided his gaze, staring instead at her hands clasped in her lap. Lily, always the peacemaker, tried to break the ice. "Thank you, Caleb," she said, her tone polite but strained. "We appreciate the ride." Caleb nodded curtly. "It's